LITHGOW Council's monthly meeting nearly descended into farce after councillors Joe McGinnes and Martin Ticehurst walked out while a member of the public was addressing the meeting.
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Mr McGinnes had taken umbrage at Lithgow Council's Environment and Development Group Manager Andrew Muir's efforts to find a resolution to Steve Maybury's building entitlement issue he had brought to the meeting.
Mr Maybury is one of the owners of more than 90 blocks of less than 4000 square metres in Lithgow Local Government Area villages that have had their building entitlement withdrawn.
Mr McGinnes who supported the the building entitlement decision could no longer listen to the empathetic Mr Muir and interjected.
"Don't give misinformation to people in the public gallery.
"This decision was carried by Council."
Councillors Frank inzitari and Peter Pilbeam noted that a division had been called when the decision was made.
"It doesn't matter," Mr McGinnes responded and with Mr Ticehurst he rose from his chair.
"Now you don't have a quorum.
"Have a good night."
Councillors Wayne McAndrew, Ross Higlett and Ray Thompson were absent from the meeting and Mr McGinnes and Mr Ticehurst's presence was required to make up the numbers to hold a meeting.
The meeting was quickly adjourned by the mayor Maree Statham.
A bemused public gallery waited for a short period of time before it was announced that councillor Ray Thompson would be attending.
Fifteen minutes later Mr Thompson was met with applause on his entry to the council chambers and the meeting resumed.
Needless to say the meeting ran smoothly after that and business was finished before 9pm.